Corps of Engineers launches new towboat “Fountain City”
The “Fountain City” will support the district’s maintenance and repair section in moving floating plants and other critical assets along the Upper Mississippi River, helping keep navigation channels open and infrastructure functioning for commercial navigation, public safety and environmental restoration.
The launch marks the point at which the hull is floated, but construction is not yet complete. Following launch, the builder will install the engines, complete interior spaces, install navigation systems and conduct extensive testing prior to the anticipated government acceptance date of Oct. 13.
“This new towboat is very important to our mission and crew who keep the river system running,” said Kristin Moe, navigation chief. “It’s a source of pride for our team. It represents a major step forward in modernization and safety, giving our crews a state‑of‑the‑art, reliable platform to do their jobs.”
The “Fountain City” will feature comfortable quarters for up to eight crewmembers in six staterooms, a full galley, crew lounge, four toilets, four showers and onboard laundry facilities. The new towboat will replace the district’s previous vessel of the same name, which was more than 50 years old when it was determined to be unserviceable.
The Corps of Engineers awarded a $13.9 million contract March 11 to TAI Holdings, Inc., out of Pensacola, Florida. The contract leveraged an existing inland river towboat design, which will be modified to meet safety and operational requirements.
For more than a century, the Fountain City Service Base has played an essential role in supporting the Corps of Engineers’ efforts to improve navigation on the Upper Mississippi River, relying on it for the construction, repair, and maintenance of vessels and equipment used for river improvement projects.
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